Throw-rail for combined third and traction rail switching systems.



PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

- J. H. MORGAN. THROW RAIL 'FOR COMBINED'THIR'D- AND TRACTION RAILSWITCHING SYSTEM S- APPLICATION H v LED APR. 16, 1904. yfl

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l uunnclununnnnunf Patented October is, 15504.

PATENT OFFICE.

' JOHN H.'MORGAN, 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THROW-RAIL FORCOMBINED THIRD ANDTRACTlON RAIL SWITCHING SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.v772,735, dated October18, 1904.

Application filed April 16, 1904- To aZZ whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago,

. systems.

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement,

in Throw-Rails for Combined Third and Traction Rail Switching Systems,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to throw-rails for combined third and tractionrail switching The object of the invention is to provide a constructionof throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail systems which issimple in construction and eflicient in operation and whereby the truckmay be switched from one track to another and the traction-gear carriedby the truckmaintained in efiicient conducting and traction engagementwith the tractlon -'rack durlng the switching move.v

ments. e

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, comblnatlon,location,. and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullythrow-rail embodying the principles of my invention as applied to a.main track and a single switch therefrom. Fig. 2 is a similar "Viewshowing the application of a form of throw-rail embodying my inventionas applied" to athree-way switching system. Fig. 3 is a view in top planof a form of throw-rail detached and embodying the principles of myinvention. Fig. Iis adetail view, in transverse section, on the line 4:I, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;- f

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever itoccurs throughout 1 the several views.

In the operation of a combined third an traction rack rail haulagesystem wherein the rack-rail performs the double function of a SerialNo. 203,466. (No model.)

conductor and a traction-rack and in order to permit of the use of sucha rack-rail. and especially at the junction of a branch or connectingline or a crossover it is desirable to. make provision for a constantengagement of the driving-gear on the truck with the combined thirdv andtraction rack while passing over the switch or from one track toanother. Usually a fixed traction-rack is employed for each pair oftrack-rails, whether such track-rails are the main track-rails ortrack-v rails of a branch or switch therefrom, and in order to securethe continuity of the combinedconductor at the switch or turnout it hasbeen proposed in Patent No. 753,802, issued March 1, 1904:, to E. 0.Morgan, to employ a combined third and traction rack made in sections,whereby such sections may be be shifted into and out of proper positionto constitute continuity of the traction-rack. In

this instance, however, a pivoted section of traction-rack is providedfor each pair of track-rails, the pivoted section for the maintrack-rails being shifted out of operative relation and the pivotedsection of the switching track-rack beingshifted into operating relationwhen the truck is to proceed. from the main track to the switch track,and vice versa. The present invention relates to devices of this natureand resides particularly in the construction of throw-rails employedother by reference-sign C, asillustrating the niode of application of myinvention. Asso-.

ciated with the main track-rails A is a combined third and traction rackD, and associated with the switch track-rails B is a combined third andtraction rack E, and associated with the switch track-rails C is acombined third and traction rack F. here a switch or turnout occurs,however, a gap is provided between the proximate ends of adjacantportions of the traction-rack D of the main trackrails, so as to enablea truck to pass from the main track-rails to the switch track-rails andalong the latter without interference from the traction-rack, and,similarly, the branch or switch track-sections E F of the tractionrackterminate outside of the main trackrails A for the same purposenamely,to permit the truck-wheels to pass along the main track-rails A withoutinterference from the traction-rack of the switch-tracks.

In accordance with the principles of my invention I propose to employ asingle pivoted section of combined third and traction rack and toprovide the same with one or more rows of engaging rack-teeth for thetraction-gear on the truck or locomotive, according to the number ofturnouts or switches with which such pivoted section is associated, soas to enable the same or a single pivoted section of combined third andtraction rack to be thrown into position to afford continuity oftraction-rack for any one or more main and switch tracks. This pivotedsection of combined third and traction rack is indicated generally inFig. 1 by reference-sign Gr and in Fig. 2 by reference-sign G, saidsections being pivoted, as at H, adjacent to the end of one of themain-track-rack portions D, and I provide this pivoted section with twoor more rows of perforations or teeth for cooperative engagement withthe teeth of the traction-gears, according to the number ofswitch-tracks, one of such rows of perforations or teeth cooperatingwith the tractionrack of the main track and others adapted to be broughtinto cooperative relation with respect to the traction racks of theswitchtracks. Inasmuch as the switch-tracks are ordinarily curved toform the turnout from the main tracks, it becomes necessary to form theline of perforations or rack-teeth of the pivoted section oftraction-rack to the curvature of the switch-tracks. one pair ofswitch-tracks only is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide thepivoted section Gr of the combined third and traction rack with two rowsof teeth or perforations, one being a straight row, as indicated at J,adapted to be brought into alinement with the main-track-rack portions Dand the other line of perforations or rack-teeth (indicated at K) beingon a curve corresponding to the curvature of the switch track-rails B,and, similarly, where two switch-tracks B C are employed, as in Fig. 2,the combined third and traction rack section G is provided with threelines of perforations or teeth, the one or central line (indicated at J)being a straight line or row and adapted to be brought into alinementwith the sections D of the main track when it is desired that the truckor Therefore where locomotive shall proceed along the main trackrails.The section G is also provided with the curved line of perforations orrack-teeth K, corresponding to the curvature of the switchingtrack-rails B and adapted to he brought into register with respect tothe [rartion-seetion E of such switching track-rails I) when it isdesired that the truck shall proceed from the main track rails A to theswitching track-rails B, and, similarly, the pivoted section G isprovided with the curved line of perforations or rack-teeth (indicatedat L) adapted to be brought into register with the traction-rack F ofthe switch-track C when it is desired that the locomotive or truck shallproceed along such switching track-rails, as indicated in thedotted-line positions.

In Figs. 8 and 4 I have shown a specilic construction of the pivotedsection and embodying the principles of my invention wherein thetraction-rack proper comprises a. plate (indicated at M) the ends ofwhich are received in grooves or seats formed to receive the same ininsulating-stringers N, the edges of the rack-plate M being secured inthe seats in the opposed faces of stringers N in any suitable orconvenient manner as, for instance, by the securing devices indicated at0, Fig. 4c. The plate M is perforated, as indicated, to impart theretothe character of the rack, as indicated at J, K, and L. If desired,insulating-strips P may be secured in any convenient manner as, forinstance, by means of securing devices Q--- to the rackplate between therows or lines of perforations or rackteeth formed in such plate and soas to eiiiciently protect against accidental contact with such rack whenit is employed as a conductor. Instead of the lines or rows ofperforations J K I extending the entire length of the pivoted section oftraction-rack said lines or rows extend for only a portion of the lengthof such section, such section being provided at each end of the lines orrows of perforations J K L with slots or teeth (indicated at R) ofdecreasing length transversely of the rack toward the extreme end ofsuch rack and which enlarged slots or openings permit ofthe engagementtherewith of the traction-gears of the truck as such gears initiallyadvance along such rack, thereby permitting the switch-points S of theswitch-tracks to direct the locomotive or truck along the desiredswitch-track from the main track before the traction-gears reach theparticular line of rack teeth J, K, or L corresponding with theparticular track along which the locomotive or truck is to progress. Inthis manner the enlarged transverse slots or openings or teeth Rcooperate with each of the lines or rows of rack-teeth or perforations,and in case of a three-way throw-rail, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, clprovide the rack-section, at the extreme free end thereof, withthetransverse line of openings opening B adapted to form the first pivotedsection-opening in cooperation with switch track-rack D, A forming thefirst pivoted section to cooperate with switch track-rack E, and Oforming the first pivoted sectionopening cooperating with switchtraclerack. F. Immediately following the transverse row of rack-openingsA B C, at the extreme free end thereof, such rack-section is providedwith a series of transverse slots or openings D'of decreasing lengthtransversely of the track-rack before the series of transverse slots oropenings R are reached, counting from right to left in Fig. 2, theseries D ta.

pering. to meet the taper of the series R of the openings until finallya single slot or open.- ing E is attained which is of standard-width orarea. If desired and in order to efficiently insulate the three waythrow-rail constructed as above described-at the point where the seriesR and D occur, flanking pieces of insulating material, such .aswood, Fmay be employed. (See Fig. '3.)

From the foregoingdescription it will be observed that I provideanexceedingly simple throw-rail which is efficiently insulated andwherein eflicient protection is afforded against accidental contact andwherein in a single 'throw-rallprovlslon is made for effectingcontinuity of traction-rack along a main track or one or more branch orswitch tracks and wherein the lines of rack-teeth in the throwrailconform to the curvature of or pathtraversed by the truck whenproceeding along the switch-tracks.

Having now set forth the object and natureof my invention and variousforms of construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim asnew and useful and of myv own invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems having av plurality of rows or. lines of perforations orrack-teeth, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with main and switch track-rails andtraction-.racksfor each pair of rails, of a throw-rail section oftraction-rack having a plurality of rows or lines of perforationsyorrack-teeth, each line or row of such perforations or teeth adapted tobebronght rows ofrack-teeth'or openings, each adapted to be brought intoregister with the tractionrack of a corresponding pair of rails,.as andfor the. purpose set forth.

4. The combination with main or switch track-rails, and a traction-rackfor each pair of such rails, of a single throw-rail having lines or rowsof rack-teeth or openings, each adaptedto be brought into register withthe traction-rack of a corresponding pair of rails, thelines ofperforations or teeth corresponding to the traction-rack of aswitch-track being curved to conform to the curvature of theswitch-track rails, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with main and switch track-rails, and a traction-rackfor each pair of rails, said traction-racks having gaps therein at theswitch or turnout, of asingle throwrail pivotally connected at one endand having a plurality of lines or rows of openings or perforationsforming rack-teeth, each adapted to be brought into registering relationat the free end of such throw-rail with a corresponding traction-rackportion of the main switchtracks, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having perforations forming racks teethformed thereinand arranged in independent rows or lines'lengthwise ofsuch plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack railswitchingsystems, comprising a plate havlng perforations or openings therethrougharranged in lines, and insulatingstringers between which said plate isreceived, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having rows of perforations or openingstherethrough, in combination with stringers having seats or groovesformed in the opposed edges thereof toreceive the edges of'suchplate,.and means for securing such plate in said stringers, as and forthe purpose set forth.

9. A throw-rail. for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having rows of perforations or openingstherethrough, insulating-stringers between which said plate is secured,and insulating-strips carried by said plate between adjacent rows ofperforations, as and for the purpose set forth.

- 10. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having openings or perforations therethrougharranged in lines extend ing lengthwise of such plate, and a series oftransverse slots oropenings at the ends of such rows of perforations,said transverse slots or openings being of decreasing length "trans-jverse of such, plate toward the ends of such plate, as and for thepurpose set forth.

11. A. throw-rail for combined third an traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having openings or perforations therethroughand arranged in lines ex- IIO tending lengthwise of such plate, one ofsuch rows being a straight row and the others being curved, as and forthe purpose set forth.

12. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having rows of perforations or openingsextending lengthwise thereof, said plate having a transverse row ofperforations or openings at one of the extreme ends thereof, as and forthe purpose set forth.

13. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having perforations or openings therethrougharranged in lines or rows extending lengthwise thereof, and havingtransverse slots or openings intermediate the ends of such lines or rowsof perforations and the end of such plate, said transverse slots oropenings being of increasing length transverse of the plate in oppositedirections from a central point, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having perforations or openings therethrougharranged in lines or rows extending lengthwise of such plate, and havingat one end transversely-extending slots or openings, and insulatingflanking pieces on opposite sides of such transverse slots, as and forthe purpose set forth.

15. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having perforations or openings therethrougharranged in lines extending lengthwise of said plate, such linesbeginning near one end of such plate and crossing each other at a pointnear the opposite end of such plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. A throw-rail for combined third and traction rack rail switchingsystems, comprising a plate having perforations or openings arranged inlines extending in straight and curved lines extending lengthwise ofsaid plate, said lines of perforations commencing at one end of suchplate and meeting and crossing each other at a point near the oppositeend of such plate and extending beyond said crossing-point and to theend of the plate, as and'for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 12th day of April,1904, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ll. MORGAN.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. E. LYNCH, Guonen 1C. AnAMs.

